A changing mole
Any mole that changes in size, shape, or color, or starts to itch, bleed, or crust.
Medical Dermatology
Skin cancer screening & full-body skin exams
A yearly full-body skin exam is one of the simplest, most powerful things you can do for your health. Caught early, skin cancer — including melanoma — is highly treatable.
Overview
Understanding skin cancer screening
A skin cancer screening (also called a full-body skin exam) is a head-to-toe check of your skin by a board-certified dermatologist. We look at spots, moles, and any areas of concern — often with a dermatoscope, a special magnifier that lets us see patterns invisible to the naked eye — to find anything suspicious as early as possible.
Early detection changes everything. When melanoma is found early, before it spreads, it is highly treatable — and most non-melanoma skin cancers, caught early, are straightforward to treat. A screening is quick, painless, and could not be more worth the visit. As a dermatology practice, we bring an expert eye to spots that are easy to miss or dismiss.
Living in Central Oregon means a lot of sun and a lot of time outdoors, at elevation, year-round. That's wonderful for life here — and it's exactly why routine skin checks matter. We make screening easy, thorough, and free of judgment about past sun exposure; we're here to help going forward.
The ABCDEs of melanoma — what to watch for
Between visits, check your own skin and watch any mole for these warning signs:
- A — Asymmetry: one half of a mole doesn't match the other.
- B — Border: edges that are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
- C — Color: more than one color, or uneven shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue.
- D — Diameter: larger than a pencil eraser (about 6 mm), though melanomas can be smaller.
- E — Evolving: any spot that is changing in size, shape, color, or symptoms — or a new spot that looks different from your others (the 'ugly duckling').
Who should be screened — and how often
Talk with us about the right schedule for you. Yearly screening is especially important if you:
- Have had a lot of sun exposure, sunburns, or tanning-bed use — common here in sunny Central Oregon.
- Have fair skin, light eyes, freckles, or many moles (or any unusual or atypical moles).
- Have a personal or family history of melanoma or other skin cancer.
- Have noticed a new, changing, non-healing, or bleeding spot — don't wait for an annual visit; come in.
- Have a weakened immune system or a history of significant sun damage.
A screening flows directly into care at our Skin Cancer Center — including surgery, incoming Mohs surgery, and the non-surgical GentleCure® Image-Guided SRT option — and you can learn more about melanoma and skin cancer treatment.
Spots worth getting checked
What we look for
A new spot after 30
Most moles appear earlier in life — a genuinely new spot in adulthood is worth a look.
The 'ugly duckling'
A spot that simply looks different from all your others.
A sore that won't heal
A spot that keeps scabbing, bleeding, or won't heal over several weeks.
A rough or scaly patch
Persistent scaly or crusty spots (actinic keratoses) that can be precancers.
A pearly or waxy bump
A shiny, translucent, or pinkish bump that slowly grows — a common look for basal cell carcinoma.
How we treat it
Your treatment options
A screening is just the beginning — if we find something, you're already in the right place. Everything flows from one visit into a clear plan.
Full-body skin exam
A thorough, head-to-toe check by a board-certified dermatologist, using dermoscopy to evaluate suspicious spots.
Dermoscopy
A handheld magnifier that reveals patterns beneath the surface, improving accuracy and reducing unnecessary biopsies.
Mole mapping & monitoring
Photographing and tracking atypical moles over time so we can spot subtle changes early.
Biopsy when needed
A quick, in-office sampling of any concerning spot, sent to pathology for a definitive answer.
Seamless treatment
If something is skin cancer, our Skin Cancer Center offers surgery, incoming Mohs surgery, and non-surgical GentleCure® — so care continues without missing a beat.
Prevention plan
Personalized guidance on sun protection and self-exams so you leave knowing exactly how to protect your skin.
When to come in
Schedule a skin check if it's been over a year since your last one, if you've never had one, or — at any time — if you notice a spot that's new, changing, non-healing, or simply doesn't look right. When it comes to skin cancer, it is always better to have it checked and be reassured than to wait.
Schedule with JuniperCommon questions
Skin Cancer Screening FAQ
What happens during a full-body skin exam?
You'll change into a gown, and a board-certified dermatologist will examine your skin from scalp to toes, including easy-to-miss spots. We often use a dermatoscope — a special magnifier — to look more closely at any spot of interest. It's quick, painless, and usually takes about 10–15 minutes. If we find something suspicious, we'll explain it and discuss next steps right then.
How often should I get a skin cancer screening?
For most adults, once a year is a good rule of thumb. You may benefit from more frequent checks if you have a history of skin cancer, many or atypical moles, fair skin, significant sun exposure, or a weakened immune system. We'll recommend the right interval for you — and you should always come in sooner for a new or changing spot.
Does a skin exam hurt?
No. A skin exam is completely painless — it's a visual examination of your skin. If we need to sample a spot with a biopsy, we numb the area first so that's comfortable too.
What are the ABCDEs of melanoma?
They're an easy way to remember melanoma warning signs: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and Evolving (any change over time). If a mole shows any of these — or simply looks different from your others — have it checked.
What happens if you find skin cancer?
You're already in the right place. Juniper has a dedicated Skin Cancer Center offering surgical removal, incoming Mohs surgery, and the non-surgical GentleCure® option for appropriate patients. We'll confirm the diagnosis, walk you through every appropriate option, and help you choose the plan that fits your cancer type, its location, your health, and your goals.
Bend & Redmond · Central Oregon
Get expert answers — this week.
Board-certified dermatology with same-week appointments — because no one should have to wait for expert care.